Iron Flame Live Reactions: Chapter 18
Aug. 26th, 2024 10:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penwallaWe're back, baby.
The chapter opens with Xaden surprising Violet in her room. She is sitting on the floor surrounded by books. They immediately start flirting, which progresses to Violet straight up suggesting they fuck, but Xaden turns her down because he's decided they won't fuck until he regains her trust. To be honest, Violet's desire to have meaningless sex with Xaden even as she refuses to forgive him...I think it's supposed to come off like she's in denial, but it just reinforces my impression that Violet's interest in Xaden is solely physical.
Violet apparently retrieved all her books from her old room in the college, which her mother hadn't touched. This would have been a cool thing to actually see on the page. And also, haven't we already learned that people are hunting down her dad's research? Surely they'd have searched the books of his favorite child, the one he was actively teaching.
Xaden flips through Violet's research and realizes she's trying to figure out how to work the Aretia wardstone, to protect Xaden's territory. There's some description here of Xaden's shadows reacting to his emotions. I think this is the first time this has ever happened in the this series? It's decent.
Xaden, at this point a lot of things Violet knows can get her killed. Kinda late to be worrying about this now!
They continue to have this tedious argument about Violet endangering herself. Xaden says something exceptionally stupid that I will highlight here:
Why? Why wouldn't you try to have friends there? Why haven't you tried to get this information? Would that not be extremely useful? It feels like Yarros has completely forgotten the actual content of the book here, honestly. This is a tried and true romantasy conflict but it makes no sense here. Violet's already committed treason! She's already in danger! Xaden could make a more specific argument, like 'hey, our new boss is literally evil and watching you like a hawk' but his vague overprotectiveness combined with his refusal to acknowledge the obvious sense in what she's doing makes him look like an idiot.
Some of the other Riders stop by Violet's room, and try to invite her out. Violet and Xaden then continue their argument...telepathically.
Violet drops what I think is supposed to be a badass one liner about how she's only "told you selective truths" when Xaden accuses her of lying to him. Does no one in this rebellion have a grasp on operational security? A guy who can read minds by touching exists! No one tell anyone anything!
Anyways, Xaden decides he's coming with Violet to meet her scribe friend and Violet gives in.
They run into Nolon, the mender, who looks very run down. Probably they're making him heal torture victims or whatnot. Nolon does a very annoying thing that characters in romance novels, often do, where he immediately starts monologuing about Violet and Xaden's relationship, even though he's a grown man with a job and should not care.
Violet and Xaden meet with scribe friend, who read Violet's folklore book and was intrigued. Violet and Xaden angst some more about their relationship, and Violet drops this insane take:
I don't...Violet, you broke up with him! The ball is in your court now! And aren't you supposed to be intelligent? You can't clock Xaden's feelings for you?
They continue their incredibly dumb fight, Xaden says he needs space and leaves, and the next morning he's gone. Okay, chapter finally over.
I don't even understand what Violet and Xaden are fighting about here. They're both aware that the situation is dangerous. They both know Dain is out there, reading minds by touching people. And they're both under significant scrutiny. There's no reason for them to be mad about secret-keeping now that they're on the same page. But they spend this entire chapter having a tedious circular argument and I literally want them to get back together just to make the book a different flavor of boring.
See you next time for chapter 19.
The chapter opens with Xaden surprising Violet in her room. She is sitting on the floor surrounded by books. They immediately start flirting, which progresses to Violet straight up suggesting they fuck, but Xaden turns her down because he's decided they won't fuck until he regains her trust. To be honest, Violet's desire to have meaningless sex with Xaden even as she refuses to forgive him...I think it's supposed to come off like she's in denial, but it just reinforces my impression that Violet's interest in Xaden is solely physical.
Violet apparently retrieved all her books from her old room in the college, which her mother hadn't touched. This would have been a cool thing to actually see on the page. And also, haven't we already learned that people are hunting down her dad's research? Surely they'd have searched the books of his favorite child, the one he was actively teaching.
Xaden flips through Violet's research and realizes she's trying to figure out how to work the Aretia wardstone, to protect Xaden's territory. There's some description here of Xaden's shadows reacting to his emotions. I think this is the first time this has ever happened in the this series? It's decent.
“Brennan told you we have a wardstone.” His words are clipped, controlled. The shadows begin moving like hands, gathering all the books around me but the one I’m holding and stacking them. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”
“Why? Because he’s more forthcoming with me than you are?” I close the book. “Relax, it’s not like he gave me your journal or something.”
“I don’t keep one, but that would have been far preferable,” he snaps. “Digging around for information on Navarre’s most classified defense will get you killed.”
Xaden, at this point a lot of things Violet knows can get her killed. Kinda late to be worrying about this now!
They continue to have this tedious argument about Violet endangering herself. Xaden says something exceptionally stupid that I will highlight here:
His eyes snap open. “There’s a reason we don’t fuck around in the Archives. That’s the beating heart of the enemy.” His gaze bores into mine. “We don’t have any friends there.”
Why? Why wouldn't you try to have friends there? Why haven't you tried to get this information? Would that not be extremely useful? It feels like Yarros has completely forgotten the actual content of the book here, honestly. This is a tried and true romantasy conflict but it makes no sense here. Violet's already committed treason! She's already in danger! Xaden could make a more specific argument, like 'hey, our new boss is literally evil and watching you like a hawk' but his vague overprotectiveness combined with his refusal to acknowledge the obvious sense in what she's doing makes him look like an idiot.
Some of the other Riders stop by Violet's room, and try to invite her out. Violet and Xaden then continue their argument...telepathically.
Violet drops what I think is supposed to be a badass one liner about how she's only "told you selective truths" when Xaden accuses her of lying to him. Does no one in this rebellion have a grasp on operational security? A guy who can read minds by touching exists! No one tell anyone anything!
Anyways, Xaden decides he's coming with Violet to meet her scribe friend and Violet gives in.
They run into Nolon, the mender, who looks very run down. Probably they're making him heal torture victims or whatnot. Nolon does a very annoying thing that characters in romance novels, often do, where he immediately starts monologuing about Violet and Xaden's relationship, even though he's a grown man with a job and should not care.
Violet and Xaden meet with scribe friend, who read Violet's folklore book and was intrigued. Violet and Xaden angst some more about their relationship, and Violet drops this insane take:
Says the man who’s never so much as told me he loves me. If he does. Gods, I’m so sick of having to make the first move when it comes to this man.
I don't...Violet, you broke up with him! The ball is in your court now! And aren't you supposed to be intelligent? You can't clock Xaden's feelings for you?
They continue their incredibly dumb fight, Xaden says he needs space and leaves, and the next morning he's gone. Okay, chapter finally over.
I don't even understand what Violet and Xaden are fighting about here. They're both aware that the situation is dangerous. They both know Dain is out there, reading minds by touching people. And they're both under significant scrutiny. There's no reason for them to be mad about secret-keeping now that they're on the same page. But they spend this entire chapter having a tedious circular argument and I literally want them to get back together just to make the book a different flavor of boring.
See you next time for chapter 19.
